Discovery BoxMark 6:2 
Context6:2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. 1 Many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did he get these ideas? 2 And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands?
Mark 11:15
Context11:15 Then 3 they came to Jerusalem. 4 Jesus 5 entered the temple area 6 and began to drive out those who were selling and buying in the temple courts. 7 He turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves,
Mark 12:14
Context12:14 When they came they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone’s favor, because you show no partiality 8 but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 9 Is it right 10 to pay taxes 11 to Caesar 12 or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
Mark 14:3
Context14:3 Now 13 while Jesus 14 was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, 15 a woman came with an alabaster jar 16 of costly aromatic oil 17 from pure nard. After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head.
1 sn See the note on synagogue in 1:21. Jesus undoubtedly took the opportunity on this occasion to speak about his person and mission, and the relation of both to OT fulfillment.
2 tn Or “this teaching”; Grk “these things.” The response of the people centers upon the content of Jesus’ teaching, so the phrase “these ideas” was supplied in the text to make this clear.
3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
4 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
5 tn Grk “He”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 tn Grk “the temple.”
sn The merchants (those who were selling) would have been located in the Court of the Gentiles.
7 tn Grk “the temple.”
sn Matthew (21:12-27), Mark (here, 11:15-19), and Luke (19:45-46) record this incident of the temple cleansing at the end of Jesus’ ministry. John (2:13-16) records a cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. See the note on the word temple courts in John 2:14 for a discussion of the relationship of these accounts to one another.
8 tn Grk “and it is not a concern to you about anyone because you do not see the face of men.”
9 sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question of the Pharisees and Herodians was specifically designed to trap Jesus.
10 tn Or “lawful,” that is, in accordance with God’s divine law. On the syntax of ἔξεστιν (exestin) with an infinitive and accusative, see BDF §409.3.
11 tn According to L&N 57.180 the term κῆνσος (khnso") was borrowed from Latin and referred to a poll tax, a tax paid by each adult male to the Roman government.
sn This question concerning taxes was specifically designed to trap Jesus. If he answered yes, then his opponents could publicly discredit him as a sympathizer with Rome. If he answered no, then they could go to the Roman governor and accuse Jesus of rebellion.
12 tn Or “the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
14 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
15 sn 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.
16 sn A jar made of alabaster stone was normally used for very precious substances like perfumes. It normally had a long neck which was sealed and had to be broken off so the contents could be used.
17 tn Μύρον (muron) was usually made of myrrh (from which the English word is derived) but here it is used in the sense of ointment or perfumed oil (L&N 6.205). The adjective πιστικῆς (pistikh") is difficult with regard to its exact meaning; some have taken it to derive from πίστις (pistis) and relate to the purity of the oil of nard. More probably it is something like a brand name, “pistic nard,” the exact significance of which has not been discovered.
sn Nard or spikenard is a fragrant oil from the root and spike of the nard plant of northern India. This aromatic oil, if made of something like nard, would have been extremely expensive, costing up to a year’s pay for an average laborer.
